Non-stranded high strength fiber optic cable

Abstract

A fiber optic cable having at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent support members. Adjacent the interface is at least one retention area having an optical fiber component disposed therein. The retention area is disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable. The cable can also include a cable jacket substantially surrounding the support members, a cushioning zone adjacent the optical fiber component, a water-blocking component and/or an interfacial layer at least partially disposed between an outer surface of the support members and the cable jacket.

That which is claimed:  
     
       1. A fiber optic cable, comprising: 
       at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent non-stranded support members, one of said plurality of support members having a generally round cross-section;  
       at least one retention area adjacent said interface, said retention area disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable;  
       at least one optical fiber component disposed within said at least one retention area; and  
       a cable jacket generally surrounding said support members.  
     
     
       2. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave shape. 
     
     
       3. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said at least one retention area having a generally convex shape. 
     
     
       4. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave and convex shape. 
     
     
       5. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , one of said plurality of support members includes steel. 
     
     
       6. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , one of said plurality of support members includes a material selected from the following aluminum, carbon fiber, copper, composite metal, plastic, glass-reinforced plastic or steel. 
     
     
       7. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said plurality of support members having a center and two of said plurality of support members having offset centers. 
     
     
       8. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said at least one optical fiber component being adjacent to a cushioning zone. 
     
     
       9. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 8 , said cushioning zone substantially surrounding the at least one optical fiber component. 
     
     
       10. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water-blocking component disposed between an outer surface of said support members and said cable jacket. 
     
     
       11. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , a cross-sectional area of the cable being non-circular. 
     
     
       12. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said cable jacket including an indicia. 
     
     
       13. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said at least one retention area including at least two generally distinct shaped areas. 
     
     
       14. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said cable having a non-preferential bend characteristic. 
     
     
       15. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , said cable having a preferential bend characteristic. 
     
     
       16. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 1 , further comprising an interfacial layer at least partially disposed between an outer surface of said support members and said cable jacket. 
     
     
       17. A fiber optic cable, comprising: 
       at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent non-stranded support members;  
       at least one retention area adjacent said interface, said retention area disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable;  
       at least one optical fiber component disposed within said at least one retention area;  
       a cushioning zone disposed in said at least one retention area and adjacent to said optical fiber component; and  
       an interfacial layer and water-blocking component at least partially disposed between an outer surface of said support members and a cable jacket generally surrounding said support members.  
     
     
       18. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave shape. 
     
     
       19. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said at least one retention area having a generally convex shape. 
     
     
       20. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave and convex shape. 
     
     
       21. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , one of said plurality of support members having a generally non-circular cross-section. 
     
     
       22. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , one of said plurality of support members having a generally round cross-section. 
     
     
       23. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , one of said plurality of support members being generally a semi-circular shell. 
     
     
       24. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 23 , said semi-circular shell further comprising at least one perforation through a land area of said semi-circular shell. 
     
     
       25. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said plurality of support members comprising a generally flat support member and at least one generally arcuate support member. 
     
     
       26. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , one of said plurality of support members includes steel. 
     
     
       27. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , one of said plurality of support members includes a material selected from the following aluminum, carbon fiber, copper, composite metal, plastic, glass-reinforced plastic or steel. 
     
     
       28. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said plurality of support members having a center and two of said plurality of support members having offset centers. 
     
     
       29. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said cushioning zone substantially surrounding said optical fiber component for decoupling said optical fiber component from said support members. 
     
     
       30. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , a cross-sectional area of the cable being non-circular. 
     
     
       31. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , the cable including an indicia. 
     
     
       32. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said at least one retention area including at least two generally distinct shaped areas. 
     
     
       33. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said cable having a non-preferential bend characteristic. 
     
     
       34. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 17 , said cable having a preferential bend characteristic. 
     
     
       35. A fiber optic cable, comprising: 
       at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent non-stranded support members;  
       at least one retention area adjacent said interface, said retention area disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable;  
       at least one optical fiber component disposed within said at least one retention area; and  
       the cable having a strain of about a 1.0% or less when applying about a 1,000 lb. tensile force.  
     
     
       36. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave shape. 
     
     
       37. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said at least one retention area having a generally convex shape. 
     
     
       38. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said at least one retention area having a generally concave and convex shape. 
     
     
       39. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , one of said plurality of support members having a generally non-circular cross-section. 
     
     
       40. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , one of said plurality of support members having a generally round cross-section. 
     
     
       41. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , one of said plurality of support members being generally a semi-circular shell. 
     
     
       42. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 41 , said semi-circular shell further comprising at least one perforation through a land area of said semi-circular shell. 
     
     
       43. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said plurality of support members comprising a generally flat support member and at least one generally arcuate support member. 
     
     
       44. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cable having a strain of about 0.3% or less when applying about a 500 lb. tensile force. 
     
     
       45. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cable having a strain of about 0.3% or less when applying about a 300 lb. tensile force. 
     
     
       46. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , one of said plurality of support members includes steel. 
     
     
       47. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , one of said plurality of support members includes a material selected from the following aluminum, carbon fiber, copper, composite metal, plastic, glass-reinforced plastic or steel. 
     
     
       48. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said at least one optical fiber component being adjacent to a cushioning zone. 
     
     
       49. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cushioning zone substantially surrounding said at least one optical fiber component. 
     
     
       50. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , further comprising a water-blocking component being disposed between an outer surface of said support members and a cable jacket. 
     
     
       51. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cable jacket including an indicia. 
     
     
       52. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , further comprising an interfacial layer at least partially disposed between an outer surface of said support members and a cable jacket. 
     
     
       53. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cable having a non-preferential bend characteristic. 
     
     
       54. The fiber optic cable according to  claim 35 , said cable having a preferential bend characteristic.